Feb 20, 2016

Stinger and Bow by Orren Merton

Welcome to the tour page for Stinger and Bow by Orren Merton. This is a young adult urban fantasy. While its the fourth book in the Sedumen Chronicles it’s a spin off and the first in this new portion of the series. You do not need to read the other books and this is a good starting point.

Thirteen year-old Rachel Silver—or as she’s known to the world, Stinger—needs a new crossbow. Her last bow failed her when she needed it most. Besides, Firebird Alex, her aunt and fellow Seduman—half-human, half-spirit being—wields a Sedu blade, made with spirit magic.

So Stinger designs herself a magic crossbow, then convinces her best friends to accompany her around the world and into the universe of Sediin to find the right craftsmen to have it made. Trouble is, warriors attract people who want to challenge them, whether they’re ready or not. Stinger is still tormented by her last battle—she’s suffering night-terrors, shakes, and cold sweats. When the situation turns deadly, will she be able to come to grips with her trauma and become the warrior she needs to be to save her friends?

EXCERPT - CHAPTER 6

“I’m totally grateful that you stood up to Tiffany for me—”

“And I always will,” I insist. “I won’t let anyone bully you, Emma. And you know I can stop them.”

“Yeah, see, that’s just it,” Emma looks up at me almost apologetically. “Ever since I found out about the whole Seduman thing, your other House in the spirit world, and all that…it’s a bit freaky, you know?”

I sigh, plop down on my bed, and hang my head. How could today get any worse? I completely lose it and nearly give an acid facial to a classmate, I’m thrown out of school for the rest of the year, my foster mother tells me that I’m not behaving like a daughter, and now my bestie tells me that I scare her.

“I’m always on your side, Emma,” I swing my legs against my bed nervously. “You’re my best friend, and I really think of you as my sister. I know I lost control, but nothing in the world could ever make me lose control like that on you or anyone in this family. Even if I were mad at you, I’d never want to hurt you. Please don’t be afraid of me.”

Emma looks up with a sad smile. “I’m not afraid—I trust you; I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I never, ever would. Never ever.”

Emma’s smile gets less sad.

“It’s more that I’m worried we’re drifting apart. You always want to hang out with Alex and your dad and be Stinger and stuff. And I get it—family is super important, and that’s your real family. And you’re, like, this huge big deal, you’re a superhero, you’ve got a whole army behind you. But I’m just this girl…how much do we have in common anymore? And now that you’re not even going to be in my school, you’ll be over at Firebird Manor even more, and we’ll hang out even less.”

It hurts to hear her say that—because it’s all true. But that’s why I love Emma so much. She’ll tell me what’s true, even if it’s hard for her to say and hard for me to hear.

“I totally understand,” I nod. “And you’re right. I love that world. Being a part of it is a huge part of who I am. But so are you, and so is being part of the Kelley family here on Earth. That’s why after Rabbi Hirsch died, I hoped that your parents would foster me. I love you and your parents and Jill and being part of your lives. And no matter how much my life has changed and will keep changing, I always will.”

About the Author:

Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age. In high school, he picked up guitar and start playing up and down California in a few loud and moody bands, culminating in his current project Ember After. During that time, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and books. Since then he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity before working on The Sedumen Chronicles, his current series of urban fantasy YA novels. He lives in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.